The Recorder of Deeds office has partnered with Official Records Online to offer the online purchase of Marriage license copies.

When you make a request online, the St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds Office will receive notification of your request for fulfillment verification. Once the Recorder of Deeds staff has verified that they can fulfill your request, your credit card will be processed and your copy will be shipped to you via the method you select when filling out your request.

If you wish to make a purchase now, please click on the following link to Official Records Online to get started.

January 2, 2014
Consumer Alert:
Buyer Beware
When Making Purchase From
Marriage License Copy Resale Business

It recently came to the attention of the St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds Office that several online companies offer to re-sell certified copies of marriage licenses issued by local public offices across the United States.

"We want the public to know that they get a much better deal from the public office that issues a marriage license than they do with a company that resells it," said Sharon Quigley Carpenter, St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds and Vital Records Registrar.

In the United States, marriage licenses are, in most cases, issued by a county or municipal office and the issuing office sells certified copies when requested., including to resale companies.

"Public offices sell certified copies at a much lower price and much faster than record resale companies."

Cost for a Certified Copy of a Marriage Application or License from the St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds is $12. Resale companies may charge up to $48 for the same copy.

In St. Louis City, walk-in marriage record services generally take a few minutes and service by mail is usually sent out same day request is received. The turnaround time by a resale company may be up to 15 days.

If you have any questions about certified copies of St. Louis City issued marriage licenses dated 1932 to Present, please call the Marriage License Department at 314.622.3257.

If you have any questions about St. Louis City marriage records dated 1765-1931, please call the Archives at 314-589-6796.

A company going by different names and addresses over the past six years is again contacting St. Louis City homeowners, offering to re-sell them a copy of their deed at a ridiculous mark-up price. See copy, homeowner's information redacted.

National Record Service (3375 Commercial Ave, Northbrook, Illinois 60062) offers to provide homeowners with a deed copy for $59.50 and implies the Federal government recommends the purchase.

"Most homeowners do not need a copy of the deed to their property. This company is trying to convince you to make an unnecessary purchase," said Sharon Quigley Carpenter, St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds and Vital Records Registrar.

"When you do need a copy, you can get it from us, the same place National Record Service will buy it from, for $5-$7 in most cases, a pittance what the company will charge you."

October 4, 2012 Consumer AlertOverpriced Deed Copies Now Sold
From Jefferson City Mailbox

Homeowners across Missouri are again receiving solicitations (copy, homeowner's information redacted) to purchase unnecessary copies of their property deeds at a steep price, resulting in county Recorders of Deeds issuing more consumer alerts.

In St. Louis City, there have been two prior consumer warnings this year.

This time, however, the business name and location are similar to a government office, the business is not registered with the State, and the cost is even higher than previous mailings.

Offers to sell homeowners a copy of their deed for $89.00 are coming from Local Records Service, 1709 Missouri Blvd Suite 2 #331, Jefferson City, MO 65109. The location is a UPS Store.

"The mailer states it is not associated with a government office. The name and Jefferson City address imply otherwise," said Sharon Quigley Carpenter, St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds.

"Local Records is the name of a records preservation program in Jefferson City under the Missouri Secretary of State, and is sometimes referred to as the Local Records Office."

"The latest solicitation states that you can buy a copy of your deed from your country recorder but it may cost up to $89.00, which is absurd."

"You do not need a copy of your deed. If you do need a certified copy of your deed, it will cost you $5.00-$7.00 in our office. In most cases, you can get it in a matter of minutes over the counter or in the mail next day."

August 2, 2012Overpriced Deed Copy Resale Business
Targets St. Louis Homeowners, Again

An alert St. Louis City homeowner received a solicitation from a business, located in a North Shore suburb of Chicago, offering to sell her a copy of her property deed at a steep price. She did the right thing, contacted the office at City Hall that records land deeds and provides copies.

"The company offers an unnecessary, expensive service with a ridiculously long response time. We urge homeowners to just ignore these solicitations," says Sharon Quigley Carpenter, St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds & Vital Records Registrar.

The mailing (copy, homeowner's information redacted) came from National Record Service, Inc., a deed copy resale business currently at 3375 Commercial Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois 60062 with phone number 888-480-2711.

National Record Service purchases certified copies of real estate deeds for $5.00 to $7.00 each from the St. Louis City Recorder & Registrar and resells them to homeowners for $59.50 each, second copy discounted to $20.00. Previously the company's copy fee was $87.50 per deed.

The solicitation includes, "The U.S. Government Federal Citizen Information Center website recommends that property owners should have an official or certified copy of their deed… This document provides evidence that your property was transferred to you."